RU: Wilmslow Wolves number eight Jamie Fletcher suffered a three-inch gash to his head as his team's Powergen Intermediate Cup run came to an ugly end at Bradford.

A brawl ended an uneven contest between Wilmslow - bottom of North Two West - and Bradford - top of North Two East.

With fists and boots flying in all directions, Fletcher came off worst.

He spent the evening in casualty needing five internal stitches and ten more to sew up the wound.

With little time left on the clock, Manchester referee Gerard Stone declined to take control or apportion blame and blew for full time.

The three final minutes of thuggery were a stark contrast to an otherwise cleanly-fought contest in foul conditions, during which the Yorkshire side showed why they are top of North Two East.

Despite a seven-try thrashing against a side that included two Tongan internationals and boasts for England coach Geoff Cook as director of rugby, skipper Alex McLennan was proud of his players' performance.

At least three of their tries came from interceptions and the last 15 minutes were played out in the visitors' 22, when the Wolves were unlucky to end the game without another score.

If his players offer a similar commitment in the league basement battle against Aldwinians at Ashton-under-Lyne this weekend, they have every chance of snatching more points.

Last Saturday wasn't all bad news for Wilmslow. Aldwinians were thumped 39-0 by Blackburn, putting them bottom of the table on just two points and lifting the Wolves just above on points difference.

Both sides have now conceded 258 points, but Wilmslow have score more.

Alex McLennan is looking for his squad to dig deep on the run-in to Christmas and a badly needed two-week break from rugby.

"I'm extremely proud of every man on the field last Saturday.

"We gifted them three tries but were pressuring them in every department and stood tall at the end when it all turned sour.

"It was an unsatisfactory end to an otherwise clean match.

"We did well to get this far in the Intermediate Cup, but now we have to concentrate on the league."

Wilmslow have fresh injury worries hanging over Kiwi centre Steve Braddock and prop Rob Fahey as well Fletcher, who seems certain to be unavailable.

Centres Rob Milner and Nick Woodward were both on the wrong end of heavy tackles that bordered on thuggery, but fly half Ross Hunter was due to start training this week and may be available for next week's home clash against Wigton.

Bradford and Bingley 47 Wilmslow Wolves 10

One observer described this mismatch as a bloody mudbath that turned into a muddy bloodbath.

Pouring rain wrecked any chance of a spectacle, but it was easy to see why Bradford and Bingley are a force to be reckoned with across the Pennines.

Yet there was no excuse for the thuggery that put the Wolves' number eight Jamie Fletcher in hospital with a head wound that could only have been caused by a stud.

Wilmslow have stood tall in the face of adversity this season, and last Saturday was no different.

Flanker Charlie Levings' tackle on a Bradford second row in a lineout was late but it wasn't malicious and it certainly didn't hurt.

But neither did it merit a vicious elbow in the face as Levings lay pinned on the deck.

Wilmslow weren't blameless in the melee that followed and Bradford's retaliation was over the top, but the indifference of referee Gerard Stone beggared belief.

His decision to blow for full time as bodies lay sprawling on the deck mirrored many decisions - for and against both sides - all afternoon.

It was a brutal interlude that spoiled an otherwise entertaining afternoon.

The final score flattered Bradford. They were gifted three interception tries.

Bradford were on the scoreboard in just six minutes after Wilmslow were penalised for offside, then for closing the gap in the lineout.

They had scored twice more before Wilmslow replied through Fletcher.

Two offside decisions had kicked Wilmslow to a lineout position just yards short with 18 minutes on the clock.

Hill, Fletcher and skipper McLennan were the stars of a hard working pack, but they couldn't stop Bradford scoring twice more before half time. (5-35). The visitors put another two scores on the board - one converted - ten minutes into the second half (5-47) when Wilmslow came alive.

Battling scrum half Jimmy Sweetzer harried his Tongan international opposite number at the base of the scrum.

And when the ball squirted out just yards from the Bradford line, Sweetzer was there to touch down - just - with 55 minutes gone (10-47).

It is to Wilmslow's credit that they held out for the final 25 minutes.

Ben Eckroyd's second XV were ambushed 63-3 at Stockport, where their first XV had no game and several players got a run-out at the expense of Wilmslow.

Matt Hamilton's third XV also lost heavily (59-9).

But it is a tribute to Hamilton - currently working away from home - and his organising colleagues that Wilmslow were able to field a third XV at all, given the club's injury crisis.